The Crossbow Cannibal

JUSTICE

On 28 May 2010 Griffiths goes to Bradford magistrates for his first court appearance. The day before a tabloid had referred to him as the ‘crossbow cannibal’. So when the magistrate asks for his name, Griffiths replies, ‘the crossbow cannibal’. He’s fully aware that all the tabloids will splash this across their front pages. And they do.And when the court asks for his address, he says, ‘Em, here I guess.’On the morning of 21 December 2010 Griffiths, dressed in a grey tracksuit, stands in the dock, for his trial of Leeds Crown Court. He is surrounded by five security guards. The Judge, Mr Justice Openshaw tells the court that the defendant’s mental health has been carefully examined and there’s ‘no question that he was fit to plead.’Each of the families have heard from the police what they suspected had happened to their daughters. Now, they have to endure listening to what he did to the others.

Susan Rushworth’s body has still not been found, but her DNA, found in bloodstains on his bathroom wall and in his bedroom link her to Griffiths.It’s revealed that forensics found DNA on the cooker belonging to Shelley Armitage and Susan Rushworth. It is likely that he cooked them before consuming them. It’s reported he told officers that he ate the flesh of Suzanne Blamires raw, adding, ‘that’s part of the magic.’Griffiths shows contempt and utter disdain for the whole proceedings often folding his arms and scowling.The trial lasts just two hours and 20 minutes because he pleads guilty to all charges.The QC of Griffiths tries to argue the system is at fault as his client was diagnosed as psychopathic nearly 20 years before.This mitigating factor doesn’t stop Griffiths being given three life sentences. The judge says he will never be released.